CenterPoint Energy, Inc. today reported income from continuing operations of $83 million, or $0.27 per diluted share for the quarter ended June 30, 2003. This compares to income from continuing operations of $86 million, or $0.29 per diluted share for the second quarter of 2002. For the six months ended June 30, 2003, income from continuing operations before cumulative effect of accounting change was $164 million, or $0.54 per diluted share, compared to $231 million, or $0.78 per diluted share for the same period of 2002.

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CenterPoint Energy's net income for the second quarter of 2003 was $63 million, or $0.21 per diluted share, compared to $236 million, or $0.79 per diluted share, for the same period of 2002. During the second quarter of 2003, the company recorded a loss of $20 million from discontinued operations primarily related to the company's planned sale of its energy management services business. During the second quarter of 2002, the company recorded income from discontinued operations of $150 million primarily related to Reliant Resources, Inc.'s (RRI) results. As previously reported, the company distributed its investment in RRI to CenterPoint Energy shareholders on September 30, 2002, and RRI's historical results are reported as discontinued operations.

Net income for the six months ended June 30, 2003 was $232 million, or $0.76 per diluted share compared to $267 million, or $0.90 per diluted share for the first six months of 2002. During the first six months of 2003, the company recorded a benefit of $80 million relating to the implementation of SFAS No. 143, "Accounting for Asset Retirement Obligations" and a $13 million loss from discontinued operations. The first six months of 2002 included income from discontinued operations of $36 million primarily related to RRI.

"I'm very pleased with the financial results of the second quarter, especially in light of much higher interest costs this year," said David McClanahan, president and chief executive officer of CenterPoint Energy. "Each of our business segments reported improved operating performance even after taking into account a significant increase in pension and insurance costs. I'm very proud of what our employees have accomplished and their continued focus on what we do best -- delivering electricity and natural gas safely and reliably.

"In addition, we have made substantial progress in improving our financial stability and liquidity," said McClanahan. "We continued to access the capital markets during the second quarter, and so far this year we have raised over $3 billion. We used these proceeds to pre-fund maturing debt, to refinance higher coupon debt, to pay down the company's bank facility and enhance our liquidity."

SECOND QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

The company's operating performance and cash flow for the second quarter of 2003 compared to the same period of 2002 were affected by:

  --  continued customer growth with the addition of almost 90,000 metered
      electric and gas customers since June of 2002, or an annualized
      2 percent growth
  --  increased revenues of $9 million from rate increases in the natural
      gas distribution operations
  --  improved operating income for our subsidiary, Texas Genco Holdings,
      Inc.  of $79 million
  --  a reduction in capital expenditures of approximately $81 million
  --  an increase in interest expense of $75 million
  --  higher pension and insurance expenses of $18 million

  Other significant events during the second quarter include:
  --  raising nearly $1.5 billion by accessing the capital markets
  --  reducing the company's credit facility by approximately $1 billion,
      which eliminated all warrants associated with the credit facility and
      eliminated a second potential dividend restriction
  --  completing the company's exit from Latin America

  OPERATING INCOME BY SEGMENT DETAILED

  Electric Transmission & Distribution

The electric transmission & distribution segment reported operating income of $235 million in the second quarter of 2003 consisting of $134 million for the regulated electric transmission & distribution utility and non-cash operating income of $101 million associated with generation-related regulatory assets, or ECOM, as described below. For the second quarter of 2002, operating income was $275 million, consisting of $105 million for the regulated electric transmission & distribution utility and non-cash operating income of $170 million associated with ECOM.

The regulated electric transmission & distribution utility continues to benefit from solid customer growth. Revenues increased from the addition of over 51,000 metered customers since June 2002 as well as the positive impact of weather. Operating expenses declined from the comparable period of 2002. Higher benefit and insurance expenses were more than offset by reduced staffing levels, the non-recurrence of certain expenses related to the transition to the deregulated market in 2002 and process improvements.

Under the Texas electric restructuring law, a regulated utility may recover, in its 2004 stranded cost true-up proceeding, the difference between market prices received by its affiliated power generation company and the prices used in the ECOM model established by the Texas PUC. During 2002 and 2003, this difference, referred to as ECOM, produces non-cash income and is recorded as a regulatory asset. The reduction in ECOM of $69 million from 2002 to 2003 resulted primarily from an increase in capacity auction prices at Texas Genco.

Operating income for the six months ended June 30, 2003 was $440 million, consisting of $207 million for the regulated electric transmission & distribution utility and non-cash operating income of $233 million for ECOM. This compares to $528 million for the same period of 2002 consisting of $217 million for the regulated electric transmission & distribution utility and non-cash operating income of $311 million for ECOM.

Electric Generation

Texas Genco owns 14,175 MW of electric generation in Texas and sells capacity, energy, and ancillary services in the Texas electric market, primarily through capacity auctions. It reported operating income of $50 million for the second quarter of 2003 compared to an operating loss of $29 million for the same period of 2002.

Wholesale electricity prices were much higher in 2003 due to substantially higher natural gas prices which led to increased capacity auction revenues for Texas Genco's baseload products. Operating expenses increased in the quarter due to higher natural gas and purchased power costs and increased operation and maintenance expenses, partially offset by reduced taxes other than income taxes. Operation and maintenance expenses increased due to outage costs associated with baseload generation units, including $4 million related to an unplanned outage at Unit 1 of Texas Genco's 30.8 percent interest in the South Texas Project Electric Generating Station (STP) nuclear facility. In addition, higher pension, employee benefit and technical support costs contributed to the increase in operation and maintenance expenses. Texas Genco estimates that the added cost of replacement energy associated with the STP Unit 1 outage negatively impacted gross margin by approximately $20 million for the quarter.

Operating income for the six months ended June 30, 2003 was $33 million, compared to an operating loss of $81 million for the same period of 2002.

Natural Gas Distribution

The natural gas distribution segment reported operating income of $21 million for the second quarter of 2003 compared to the prior year's second quarter operating income of $11 million.

The increase in operating income in the natural gas distribution segment resulted from continued customer growth, higher revenues from rate increases implemented late last year and improved margins from our commercial and industrial sales. These improvements more than offset increased expenses associated with higher pension, employee benefit and insurance expenses. The costs associated with a receivables facility, which was modified in November 2002, reduced operating income by $3 million, whereas prior to the amendment, these costs were included in interest expense.

Operating income for the six months ended June 30, 2003 was $151 million, compared to $118 million for the same period of 2002.

Pipelines and Gathering

The pipelines and gathering segment reported operating income of $42 million in the second quarter of 2003 compared to $39 million for the same period of 2002. The operating improvement was primarily related to improved revenues in the gas gathering operations. The segment continues to produce consistent operating income and stable cash flows.

Operating income for the six months ended June 30, 2003 was $85 million, compared to $76 million for the same period of 2002.

Other Operations

The company's other operations reported an operating loss for the second quarter of 2003 of $2 million compared to an operating loss of $7 million for the same period of 2002. The operating loss for the six months ended June 30, 2003 was $2 million, compared to no operating income for the same period of 2002.

Discontinued Operations

During the second quarter of 2003, the company sold its remaining investment in Argentina, a 90 percent interest in Edese, an electric utility distribution company. Through this sale, the company completed its strategy of exiting Latin America. In addition, the company is negotiating to sell CenterPoint Energy Management Services, Inc. (CEMS), which provides district cooling to businesses in the downtown Houston area. In the second quarter of 2003, the company recorded a $3 million loss in discontinued operations related to exiting Latin America and a $16 million impairment related to CEMS.

In the second quarter of 2002, the company reported income from discontinued operations of $150 million primarily related to RRI's results.

2003 OUTLOOK

CenterPoint Energy confirms its 2003 earnings guidance of $0.85 to $1.00 per diluted share from continuing operations. This reflects the company's outlook for continued solid operational performance by its business segments.

WEBCAST OF EARNINGS CONFERENCE CALL

CenterPoint Energy's management will host an earnings conference call on Tuesday July 29, 2003, at 10:30 a.m. Central time. Interested parties may listen to a live, audio broadcast of the conference call at www.CenterPointEnergy.com/investors/events . A replay of the call can be accessed approximately two hours after the completion of the call, and will be archived on the web site for at least one year.

The management of Texas Genco, the company's 81 percent owned subsidiary, will host an earnings conference call on Tuesday July 29, 2003, at 9:00 a.m. Central time. Interested parties may listen to a live, audio broadcast of the conference call at www.txgenco.com/investor.html . A replay of the call can be accessed approximately two hours after the completion of the call, and will be archived on the web site for at least one year.

CenterPoint Energy, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, is a domestic energy delivery company that includes electric transmission & distribution, natural gas distribution and sales, interstate pipeline and gathering operations, and more than 14,000 megawatts of power generation in Texas. The company serves nearly five million metered customers primarily in Arkansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. Assets total approximately $20 billion. CenterPoint Energy became the new holding company for the regulated operations of the former Reliant Energy, Incorporated in August 2002. With more than 11,000 employees, CenterPoint Energy and its predecessor companies have been in business for more than 130 years.

This news release includes forward-looking statements. Actual events and results may differ materially from those projected. Factors that could affect actual results include the timing and impact of future regulatory and legislative decisions, effects of competition, weather variations, changes in CenterPoint Energy's or its subsidiaries' business plans, financial market conditions, the timing and extent of changes in commodity prices, particularly natural gas and other factors discussed in CenterPoint Energy's and its subsidiaries' filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                    Statements of Consolidated Income
                          (Thousands of Dollars)
                               (Unaudited)


                                   Quarter Ended        Six Months Ended
                                      June 30,              June 30,
                                -------------------   --------------------
                                  2003       2002       2003       2002
                                --------   --------   --------  ----------
  Revenues:
    Electric Transmission &
     Distribution               $481,772   $528,350   $929,175  $1,096,403
    Electric Generation          578,511    413,648    937,098     739,295
    Natural Gas Distribution     970,576    796,722  3,015,327   1,976,595
    Pipelines and Gathering      121,716    102,408    230,824     194,351
    Other Operations               9,322      6,955     18,252      13,946
    Eliminations                 (70,997)   (49,659)  (139,608)   (144,776)
          Total                2,090,900  1,798,424  4,991,068   3,875,814

  Expenses:
    Fuel and cost of gas sold  1,080,857    862,058  2,940,003   1,904,620
    Purchased power               22,974      4,258     34,968      52,624
    Operation and maintenance    393,085    372,505    805,961     760,467
    Depreciation and
     amortization                157,263    151,072    309,544     299,481
    Taxes other than income
     taxes                        90,691    119,134    193,535     217,285
          Total                1,744,870  1,509,027  4,284,011   3,234,477
  Operating Income               346,030    289,397    707,057     641,337

  Other Income (Expense):
    Gain (loss) on AOL Time
     Warner investment           113,178   (230,214)    64,704    (447,811)
    Gain (loss) on indexed debt
     securities                  (98,253)   218,723    (55,550)    421,956
    Interest                    (215,087)  (139,847)  (439,081)   (257,599)
    Distribution on trust
     preferred securities        (13,899)   (13,850)   (27,797)    (27,749)
    Other - net                    1,629      7,664      4,788      14,788
          Total                 (212,432)  (157,524)  (452,936)   (296,415)

  Income from Continuing
   Operations Before Income
   Taxes, Minority Interest
   and Cumulative Effect of
   Accounting Change             133,598    131,873    254,121     344,922

  Income Tax Expense             (44,346)   (45,744)   (85,455)   (113,914)
  Minority Interest               (6,295)        (7)    (4,229)          4

  Income from Continuing
   Operations Before Cumulative
   Effect of Accounting Change    82,957     86,122    164,437     231,012

  Discontinued Operations:
    Income from Reliant
     Resources, net of tax           ---    147,849        ---      34,450
    Income (loss) from Other
     Operations, net of tax         (403)     1,674       (865)      1,788
    Loss on disposal of Other
     Operations, net of tax      (19,331)       ---    (11,989)        ---
          Total                  (19,734)   149,523    (12,854)     36,238

  Cumulative Effect of
   Accounting Change, net of
   minority interest and tax         ---        ---     80,072         ---
  Net Income Attributable to
   Common Shareholders           $63,223   $235,645   $231,655    $267,250

 Reference is made to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
 contained in the Current Report on Form 8-K of CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
                           dated May 12, 2003.


                CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries
           Selected Data From Statements of Consolidated Income
             (Thousands of Dollars, Except Per Share Amounts)
                               (Unaudited)

                                     Quarter Ended        Six Months Ended
                                        June 30,              June 30,
                                  ------------------    --------------------
                                    2003       2002       2003        2002
                                  --------   --------   --------    --------

  Basic Earnings Per Common Share:
    Income from Continuing
     Operations before Cumulative
     Effect of Accounting Change   $0.27      $0.29      $0.54       $0.78
    Discontinued Operations:
      Income from Reliant
       Resources, net of tax         ---       0.49        ---        0.11
      Income (Loss) from Other
       Operations, net of tax        ---       0.01        ---        0.01
      Loss on Disposal of Other
       Operations, net of tax      (0.06)       ---      (0.04)        ---
    Cumulative Effect of
     Accounting Change, net of
     minority interest and tax       ---        ---       0.27         ---
    Net Income Attributable to
     Common Shareholders           $0.21      $0.79      $0.77       $0.90

  Diluted Earnings Per Common
   Share:
    Income from Continuing
     Operations before Cumulative
     Effect of Accounting Change   $0.27      $0.29      $0.54       $0.78
    Discontinued Operations:
      Income from Reliant
       Resources, net of tax         ---       0.49        ---        0.11
      Income (Loss) from Other
       Operations, net of tax        ---       0.01        ---        0.01
      Loss on Disposal of Other
       Operations, net of tax      (0.06)       ---      (0.04)        ---
    Cumulative Effect of
     Accounting Change, net of
     minority interest and tax       ---        ---       0.26         ---
    Net Income Attributable to
     Common Shareholders           $0.21      $0.79      $0.76       $0.90

  Dividends Declared per Common
   Share                           $0.20 (A) $0.375      $0.30 (A)   $0.75

  Weighted Average Common
   Shares Outstanding (000):
   - Basic                       304,046    297,696    302,373     296,963
   - Diluted                     306,104    298,471    304,149     297,934

  Operating Income (Loss) by
   Segment

  Electric Transmission &
   Distribution:
    Transmission & Distribution
     Operations                 $133,316   $105,028   $206,954    $217,598
    ECOM True-up                 101,318    169,777    233,281     310,785
      Total Electric Transmission
       & Distribution            234,634    274,805    440,235     528,383
  Electric Generation             50,044    (29,122)    32,928     (80,878)
  Natural Gas Distribution        20,951     11,223    150,512     117,695
  Pipelines and Gathering         42,355     38,988     85,249      75,926
  Other Operations                (1,954)    (6,497)    (1,867)        211

  Total                         $346,030   $289,397   $707,057    $641,337

  (A) Includes a dividend declared on June 18, 2003 payable on
      September 10, 2003.

 Reference is made to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
 contained in the Current Report on Form 8-K of CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
                           dated May 12, 2003.


                CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                     Results of Operations by Segment
                          (Millions of Dollars)
                               (Unaudited)

                                 Electric Transmission & Distribution
                                ---------------------------------------
                                 Quarter Ended June 30,     % Diff
                                -----------------------
                                   2003        2002        Fav/(Unfav)
                                -----------------------   -------------
  Results of Operations:
  Operating Revenues:
    Electric revenues              $381        $358             6%
    ECOM true-up                    101         170           (41%)
      Total Revenues                482         528            (9%)
  Operating Expenses:
    Fuel and purchased power        ---          (4)         (100%)
    Operation and maintenance       126         130             3%
    Depreciation and amortization    68          66            (3%)
    Taxes other than income          53          61            13%
      Total                         247         253             2%
  Operating Income                 $235        $275           (15%)


  Electric Transmission &
  Distribution Operating Data:
                              Quarter Ended June 30,
                             -----------------------
  Actual MWH Delivered           2003        2002
                             ----------   ----------
  Residential                 6,490,357    6,295,795            3%

  Weather (average for
   service area):
  Percentage of normal:
    Cooling degree days             118%         108%          10%
    Heating degree days             n/a          n/a          n/a

  Average number of
   metered customers:
    Residential               1,585,815    1,539,193            3%
    Commercial and
     Industrial                 221,620      211,770            5%
      Total                   1,807,435    1,750,963            3%


                                         Electric Generation
                               ---------------------------------------
                                Quarter Ended June 30,     % Diff
                               -----------------------
                                  2003         2002        Fav/(Unfav)
                               -----------------------   -------------
  Results of Operations:
  Operating Revenues:
    Energy revenues            $   378      $   307           23%
    Capacity and other
     revenues                      200          107           87%
          Total                    578          414           40%
  Operating Expenses:
    Fuel and purchased power       372          299          (24%)
    Operation and maintenance      105           79          (33%)
    Depreciation and
     amortization                   39           39          ---
    Taxes other than income         12           26           54%
          Total                    528          443          (19%)
  Operating Income (Loss)      $    50      $   (29)         272%

  Physical Electric
   Generation Power
   Sales (MWH)              12,517,490   14,643,805          (15%)


                                  Electric Transmission & Distribution
                              -------------------------------------------
                                Six Months Ended June 30,      % Diff
                              ---------------------------
                                   2003        2002           Fav/(Unfav)
                              ---------------------------   -------------
  Results of Operations:
  Operating Revenues:
    Electric revenues             $696         $785             (11%)
    ECOM true-up                   233          311             (25%)
      Total Revenues               929        1,096             (15%)
  Operating Expenses:
    Fuel and purchased power       ---           56             100%
    Operation and maintenance      259          270               4%
    Depreciation and
     amortization                  133          130              (2%)
    Taxes other than income         97          112              13%
      Total                        489          568              14%
  Operating Income                $440         $528             (17%)


  Electric Transmission &
  Distribution Operating Data:
                             Six Months Ended June 30,
                            --------------------------
  Actual MWH Delivered          2003          2002
                            ----------   -------------
  Residential               11,048,552    10,769,260              3%

  Weather (average
   for service area):
  Percentage of normal:
    Cooling degree days            110%          108%             2%
    Heating degree days            111%          100%            11%

  Average number of
   metered customers:
    Residential              1,581,465     1,535,499              3%
    Commercial and
     Industrial                221,364       211,527              5%
      Total                  1,802,829     1,747,026              3%


                                          Electric Generation
                              -------------------------------------------
                                Six Months Ended June 30,     % Diff
                              ---------------------------
                                  2003         2002          Fav/(Unfav)
                              ---------------------------   -------------
  Results of Operations:
  Operating Revenues:
    Energy revenues            $   602      $   547              10%
    Capacity and other
     revenues                      335          192              74%
        Total                      937          739              27%
  Operating Expenses:
    Fuel and purchased power       592          528             (12%)
    Operation and maintenance      211          174             (21%)
    Depreciation and
     amortization                   78           79               1%
    Taxes other than income         23           39              41%
        Total                      904          820             (10%)
  Operating Income (Loss)      $    33      $   (81)            141%


  Physical Electric
   Generation Power
   Sales (MWH)              21,793,836   26,447,104             (18%)

   Reference is made to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
   contained in the Current Report on Form 8-K of CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
                             dated May 12, 2003.


                CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                     Results of Operations by Segment
                          (Millions of Dollars)
                               (Unaudited)

                                       Natural Gas Distribution
                                ---------------------------------------
                                 Quarter Ended June 30,     % Diff
                                -----------------------
                                   2003        2002        Fav/(Unfav)
                                -----------------------   -------------
  Results of Operations:
  Operating Revenues             $  971      $  797            22%
  Operating Expenses:
    Natural gas                     761         604           (26%)
    Operation and maintenance       137         125           (10%)
    Depreciation and amortization    34          32            (6%)
    Taxes other than income          18          25            28%
          Total                     950         786           (21%)
  Operating Income               $   21      $   11            91%

  Natural Gas Distribution
   Operating Data:
  Throughput data in BCF
  Residential and Commercial         36          49           (27%)
  Industrial                         12          13            (8%)
  Transportation                     11          13           (15%)
  Non-rate regulated commercial
   and industrial                   111          96            16%
      Total Throughput              170         171            (1%)


  Weather (average for
   service area)
  Percentage of normal:
    Heating degree days              89%        114%          (25%)

  Average number of
   customers:
    Residential               2,746,489   2,720,237             1%
    Commercial and
     Industrial                 250,086     249,131           ---
        Total                 2,996,575   2,969,368             1%


                                         Pipelines and Gathering
                                ---------------------------------------
                                 Quarter Ended June 30,     % Diff
                                -----------------------
                                   2003        2002        Fav/(Unfav)
                                -----------------------   -------------
  Results of Operations:
  Operating Revenues             $  122      $  102            20%
  Operating Expenses:
    Natural gas                      35          10          (250%)
    Operation and maintenance        30          38            21%
    Depreciation and amortization    11          10           (10%)
    Taxes other than income           4           5            20%
          Total                      80          63           (27%)
  Operating Income               $   42      $   39             8%


  Pipelines and Gathering
   Operating Data:
  Throughput data in BCF
  Natural Gas Sales                   4           5           (20%)
  Transportation                    203         205            (1%)
  Gathering                          74          70             6%
  Elimination                        (2)         (1)         (100%)
      Total Throughput              279         279           ---


                                        Natural Gas Distribution
                               ------------------------------------------
                                Six Months Ended June 30,      % Diff
                               --------------------------
                                   2003        2002           Fav/(Unfav)
                               --------------------------   -------------
  Results of Operations:
  Operating Revenues            $ 3,015     $ 1,977              53%
  Operating Expenses:
    Natural gas                   2,455       1,488             (65%)
    Operation and maintenance       284         256             (11%)
    Depreciation and
     amortization                    67          62              (8%)
    Taxes other than income          58          53              (9%)
          Total                   2,864       1,859             (54%)
  Operating Income              $   151     $   118              28%

  Natural Gas Distribution
   Operating Data:
  Throughput data in BCF
  Residential and Commercial        192         181               6%
  Industrial                         24          24             ---
  Transportation                     26          28              (7%)
  Non-rate regulated commercial
   and industrial                   245         217              13%
          Total Throughput          487         450               8%


  Weather (average for
   service area)
  Percentage of normal:
    Heating degree days             104%         99%              5%


  Average number of
   customers:
    Residential               2,758,274   2,722,974               1%
    Commercial and
     Industrial                 251,366     249,670               1%
           Total              3,009,640   2,972,644               1%


                                         Pipelines and Gathering
                               -------------------------------------------
                                Six Months Ended June 30,       % Diff
                               --------------------------
                                    2003        2002          Fav/(Unfav)
                               --------------------------    -------------
  Results of Operations:
  Operating Revenues              $  231      $  194              19%
  Operating Expenses:
    Natural gas                       56          17            (229%)
    Operation and maintenance         60          72              17%
    Depreciation and amortization     21          20              (5%)
    Taxes other than income            9           9             ---
           Total                     146         118             (24%)
  Operating Income                $   85      $   76              12%



  Pipelines and Gathering Operating
   Data:
  Throughput data in BCF
  Natural Gas Sales                    8          10             (20%)
  Transportation                     471         443               6%
  Gathering                          146         141               4%
  Elimination                         (4)         (1)           (300%)
     Total Throughput                621         593               5%


 Reference is made to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements
 contained in the Current Report on Form 8-K of CenterPoint Energy, Inc.
                           dated May 12, 2003.


                CenterPoint Energy, Inc. and Subsidiaries
                     Results of Operations by Segment
                          (Millions of Dollars)
                               (Unaudited)


                                          Other Operations
                               ----------------------------------------
                                 Quarter Ended June 30,     % Diff
                               ------------------------
                                     2003     2002         Fav/(Unfav
                               ------------------------   -------------
  Results of Operations:
  Operating Revenues                 $  9     $  7            29%
  Operating Expenses                   11       14            21%
  Operating Loss                     $ (2)    $ (7)           71%



                                           Other Operations
                               ----------------------------------------
                                Six Months Ended June 30,   % Diff
                               --------------------------
                                     2003     2002          Fav/(Unfav
                               --------------------------  ------------
  Results of Operations:
  Operating Revenues                 $ 18     $ 14            29%
  Operating Expenses                   20       14           (43%)
  Operating Loss                     $ (2)    $---           ---
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